Abstract:

In a car stereo system, when an object such as a hand comes close to a
sensing range of a proximity sensor provided near an illumination button
while a display section and lights of an operation section that are
provided on a front face of the car stereo system are in a state of
complete non-lighting, only the light of the illumination button is
turned on; if the illumination button is operated within the
predetermined period of time, then the display section and the lights of
the operation section are turned on; and if the illumination button is
not operated within the predetermined period of time, then the light of
the illumination button is turned off so that the state of complete
non-lighting is entered again.

Claims:

1-5. (canceled)

6. An electronic device comprising:a display unit adapted to indicate
information regarding operation of the electronic device;an operation
unit adapted to perform input operation,a first illumination unit adapted
to illuminate the operation unit;a second illumination unit configured to
illuminate the illumination button 4b; a switching unit configured to
switch between a state of display and a state of non-display of the
display unit, and adapted to switch between a state of lighting and a
state of non-lighting of the first illumination unit;a lighting detection
unit configured to detect whether or not the second illumination unit
only is turned on when the display unit is in the state of non-display
and the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit are in
the state of non-lighting; anda control unit configured to turn on the
second illumination unit when it is determined by the lighting detection
unit that the second illumination unit is turned on.

7. The electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the lighting
detection unit is configured to operate based on at least one event being
selected from the group consisting of: (a) proximity of the object to a
predetermined range of the operation unit has been detected; (b) the
object contacting or pressing the operation unit has been detected; and
(c) a predetermined keyword has been detected via audio input.

8. The electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the switching
unit is configured to be switched on the basis of at least one event
being selected from the group consisting of: (a) proximity of the object
to a predetermined range of the switching unit has been detected; (b) the
object contacting or pressing the switching unit has been detected; and
(c) a predetermined keyword has been detected via audio input.

9. The electronic device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the control unit
is configured to turn off the second illumination unit when the switching
unit is not operated for a predetermined period of time after turning on
of the second illumination unit by the control unit.

10. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit
is configured to turn off the display unit, the first illumination unit,
and the second illumination unit when the operation unit is not operated
for a predetermined period of time after turning on of the display unit,
the first illumination unit, and the second illumination unit.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present invention relates to, by way of example, an electronic
device that includes a display section for indicating states of devices
and an operation section for operating the devices.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]Conventionally, by way of example in an in-vehicle device such as a
car stereo system, a display section for indicating status of devices and
an operation section such as a button and a knob for operating the
devices are arranged in a front panel of the in-vehicle device. Regions
surrounding the buttons and/or knobs of the operation section may be
illuminated, or the buttons and knobs as such may be adapted to emit
light, so that location of the button and the knob can be readily
recognized by a user.

[0003]Also, the display section and the operation section may comprise a
button for switching between a state of display (in which the display
section is turned on and a state of non-display (in which the display
section is turned off), and/or between a state of lighting (in which the
buttons and knobs of the operation section are allowed to emit light) and
a state of non-lighting in which the buttons and knobs of the operation
section do not emit light) as required. User's operation of the button
allows switching of these operating states.

[0004]Methodology for switching between the state of display and the state
of non-display of this kind (switching or between the state of lighting
and the state of non-lighting) may be, in place of the button, use of a
sensor for detection of proximity of an object such as a hand, which is
advocated by way of example in an in-vehicle switch illumination device
as disclosed in the patent literature PTL 1 and in an automotive
television system as disclosed in the patent literature PTL 2, so as to
switch between the state of display and the state of non-display (the
state of lighting and the state of-non-lighting).

[0006]In recent years, in the interests of crime prevention in vehicles,
there is requirement that the display section and the operation section
be only illuminated during operation of these sections while existence of
the device cannot be discerned from an outside. In view of such
requirement, switching has been conventionally made using the button for
switching the above-described the state of display and the state of
non-displays (the state of lighting and the state of non-lighting), or
the methodology as described in the patent literatures 1 or 2 has been
used to detect proximity of the hand or other objects. Such conventional
methodology has the following drawbacks.

[0007]First, although this drawback may not be found in a case where the
state of lighting is switched to the state of non-lighting, if the
switching is to be made from the state of non-lighting to the state of
lighting, the user who attempts to manually switch these states cannot
discern the existence of the switching button because the button as such
is placed in the state of non-lighting, which causes trouble in the
switching operation. Also, if the device is not fully placed in the state
of non-lighting while only the switching button is allowed to emit light
except for a case in which the device is operated so that the switching
button can be recognized, then this cannot be a perfect crime prevention
countermeasure.

[0008]Also, in the case of the methodology described in the patent
literature 1 or 2, the display section and the operation section may be
placed in the state of lighting even in a case where the user does not
actually intend to place the device in the state of lighting, including a
case where an object accidentally passed over a region near the sensor,
which decreases crime prevention performance.

[0009]In view of the above-identified problem, an object of the present
invention is to provide an electronic device that allows display of the
display section and illumination of the operation section by way of
example when the user really intends to do so and thus improve the crime
prevention performance.

Solution to Problem

[0010]In order to attain the above objective, an electronic device
according to claim 1 of the present invention is an electronic device
comprising: a display unit adapted to indicate information regarding
operation of the electronic device; an operation unit adapted to perform
input operation, a first illumination unit adapted to illuminate the
operation unit, a second illumination unit configured to illuminate the
switching unit; a switching unit configured to switch between display and
non-display of the display unit, and adapted to switch between lighting
and non-lighting of the first illumination unit; a lighting detection
unit configured to detect whether or not the second illumination unit
only is turned on when the display unit is in a state of the non-display
and the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit are in a
state of non-lighting; and a control unit configured to turn on the
second illumination unit when it is determined by the lighting detection
unit that the second illumination unit is to be turned on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of
a car stereo system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control of states of display and
non-display of a display section and states of lighting and non-lighting
of buttons and a knob of an operation unit of the car stereo system of
FIG. 1.

[0015]FIG. 5 is an illustration of the state of complete non-lighting of
the display section and the operation section.

[0016]FIG. 6 is an illustration of a state where only the illumination
button is illuminated.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0017]1 Car stereo system

[0018]3 Display section (display unit)

[0019]4 Operation section (operation unit)

[0020]4b Illumination button (switching unit)

[0021]5 Microcontroller (control unit)

[0022]6 Proximity sensor (lighting detection unit)

[0023]10 Light (first illumination unit)

[0024]11 Light (second illumination unit)

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0025]The following describes an electronic device according to one
embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device of the one
embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit that only
turns on a second illumination unit when it is detected by a lighting
detection unit that a display unit is in a state of non-display and a
first illumination unit and the second illumination unit are turned off.
Thus, when the display unit is in the state of non-display and the
operation unit is turned off, the control unit turns on the second
illumination unit so as to illuminate the switching unit only. It is
possible to confirm whether or not the user is intentionally attempting
the operation. Also, even when the second illumination unit is turned on
unintentionally, the range of illumination is small and the device is not
readily recognized from an outside, and, as a result, crime prevention
performance can be improved when compared with a case where all is turned
on.

[0026]Also, the lighting detection unit may be configured to operate based
on at least one event being selected from the group consisting of: (a)
proximity of the object to a predetermined range of the operation unit
has been detected; (b) the object contacting or pressing the operation
unit has been detected; and (c) a predetermined keyword has been detected
via audio input. In this manner, when the illumination for the switching
unit is turned on upon the detection of the object that comes close to
the predetermined range of the switching unit, the operation will be
facilitated by the illumination of the switching unit provided by just
the object such as the hand coming closer to the electronic device. When
the illumination of the switching unit is provided upon detection of the
object coming into contact with or pressing the switching unit, the
illumination will not turned on until the switching unit is definitively
touched or pressed, which prevents unintentional illumination. When the
illumination is provided based on the audio input, the illumination can
be turned on without movement of the object such as the hand. Also,
combination of these features will further increase the operability of
the device.

[0027]Also, the switching unit may be configured to be switched on the
basis of at least one event being selected from the group consisting of:
(a) proximity of the object to a predetermined range of the switching
unit has been detected; (b) the object contacting or pressing the
switching unit has been detected; and (c) a predetermined keyword has
been detected via audio input. With this configuration, operation is
facilitated by switching of the state of display and the state of
non-display of the display unit in response to detection of the proximity
of the object to the predetermined range of the switching unit, which
allows the switching to be performed by just moving the object such as
the hand close to the device. Also, if the state of display and the state
of non-display of the display unit is switched upon detection of the
object contacting or pressing the switching unit, the switching will not
occur until the switching unit is definitively touched or pressed, which
will reduce accidental switching If the state of display and the state of
non-display are switched by the audio input and the state of lighting and
the state of non-lighting of the illumination unit are switched by the
audio input, it is made possible to perform the switching without
movement of the object such as the hand. Also, combination of these
features will further increase the operability of the device.

[0028]Also, the control unit may be configured to turn off the second
illumination unit when the switching unit is not operated for a
predetermined period of time after turning on of the second illumination
unit by the control unit. With this configuration, the second
illumination unit is turned off after lapse of the predetermined period
of time even when the second illumination device has been accidentally
turned on entered. Accordingly, it is made possible to decrease lighting
time, and thus the crime prevention performance can be increased.

[0029]Also, the control unit may be configured to turn off the display
unit, the first illumination unit, and the second illumination unit when
the operation unit is not operated for a predetermined period of time
after turning on of the display unit, the first illumination unit, and
the second illumination unit. With this configuration, it is made
possible to fully turn off the display unit and the operation unit when
it is not necessary to turn on these units, e.g., when no operation is
performed, and thus the crime prevention performance can be increased.

Exemplary Embodiment

[0030]A car stereo system 1 according to one embodiment of the present
invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0031]The car stereo system 1, which may be mounted in an instrument panel
in an interior of a vehicle, is a device for viewing and/or listening of
radio broadcasting, a CD (compact disc), and a DVD (digital versatile
disc).

[0032]As shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a perspective view of an external
appearance of the car stereo system 1, the car stereo system 1 includes a
flat box-shaped case 2 having a front face 2a, and a display section 3
and an operation section 4 that are provided on the front face 2a of the
case 2.

[0033]The display section 3 serving as the display unit (in the context of
the present invention) may comprise a liquid crystal display and/or a
fluorescent display tube, and is adapted to indicate operating status of
the car stereo system 1.

[0034]The operation section 4 serving as the operation unit in the context
of the present invention may comprise a button and a knob for use in
various operations related to the car stereo system 1.

[0035]Regarding the display section 3 and the operation section 4,
description is provided in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[0036]Referring to FIG. 2, the front face 2a of the case 2 includes the
display section 3 and a plurality of buttons 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g,
4h, 4i, and a knob 4j, which serve as the operation section 4. The button
4b amongst these buttons is referred to as an illumination button. The
illumination button 4b is adapted to switch a state of display and a
state of non-display of the display section 3, and to switch a state of
lighting and a state of non-lighting of lights 10 of the buttons 4a, 4c,
4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i and the knob 4j, and switch a state of lighting
and a state of non-lighting of a light 11 of the illumination button 4b
as such. Also, the illumination button 4b functions as the switching unit
in the context of the scope of claims.

[0037]The display section 3 described in the foregoing may comprise the
liquid crystal display or the fluorescent display tube, and the state of
display and the state of non-display of the display section 3 can be
switched by the illumination button 4b of the operation section 4 (the
state of display being a state where display by the display section 3 is
turned on and the state of non-display being a state where the display by
the display section 3 is turned off). It is also contemplated that, in
addition to display and non-display of the display section 3, an external
light source may be provided to provide illumination for the display
section 3, the light source being adapted to operate in conjunction with
the state of display and the state of non-display of the display section
3.

[0038]The buttons 4a, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, and 4i each have inside
thereof the light 10 which may be an LED light source. The illumination
these buttons is achieved with the light emitted from the light 10 passed
to an outside via a transparent portion provided in each button.
Likewise, the illumination button 4b includes inside thereof the light 11
which may be an LCD light source, and the illumination of the button is
achieved with the light emitted by the light 11 passed to an outside via
a transparent portion provided in the button. The knob 4j includes a
light provided inside thereof which may be an LED light source which
emits light that passes via its peripheral surface. This means that the
light 10 corresponds to the first illumination unit in the context of the
scope of claims, and the light 11 to the second illumination unit in the
context of the scope of claims.

[0040]A microcontroller 5 serving as the control unit (in the context of
the present invention) is a microcontroller incorporating a CPU (central
processing unit) and a memory unit, and adapted to control overall
functionality of the car stereo system 1, and, particularly in this
embodiment, the control unit is configured to provide switching between
the state of display and the state of non-display of the display section
3 as well as the state of lighting and the state of non-lighting of the
lights 10 and 11 of the operation section 4.

[0041]A proximity sensor 6 serving as the lighting detection unit (in the
context of the present invention) may be an infrared sensor adapted to
detect proximity of an object, which may be a hand, to a predetermined
range of the illumination button 4b. As shown in FIG. 2, the proximity
sensor 6 is provided near the illumination button 4b. More than one
proximity sensor 6 may be provided for detection of the proximity of the
object to the predetermined range of the front face 2a.

[0042]A tuner 7 is a receiving device for receiving radio broadcast. The
microcontroller 5 is adapted to turn on and turn off the tuner 7 and
switching of broadcasting stations.

[0043]An optical disk drive 8 is a device adapted to play back an optical
disc such as the CD and the DVD. The microcontroller 5 is adapted to turn
on and turn off the optical disk drive and control operation such as
playback and stopping playback of the optical disc.

[0044]The following describes operational control of the state of display
and the state of non-display of the display section 3, and the state of
lighting and the state of non-lighting of the light sources such as the
buttons and the knob of the operation section 4 in the car stereo system
1 with the above-described configuration, the description being made with
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4. The process depicted by the
flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed by the microcontroller 5.

[0045]First, in the step S1, the car stereo system 1 is powered on and the
process goes to the step S2.

[0046]Subsequently, in the step S2, the display section 3 is placed in the
state of display, the lights 10, 11 of the operation section 4 are placed
in the state of lighting, and the process goes to the step S3. Hereafter,
a "state of complete lighting" refers to a state in which the display
section 3 is in the state of display and the lights 10, 11 of the
operation section 4 are in the state of lighting.

[0047]Next, in the step S3, it is judged whether or not the operation
section 4 is not operated for a predetermined period of time (no
operation state). If the judgment is affirmative (when YES), the process
goes to the step S4. If the judgment is negative (when NO), the process
goes back to the step S2.

[0048]After that, in the step S4, since the operation section 4 is not
operated during the predetermined period of time in the step S3, as shown
in FIG. 5, the display section 3 is placed in the state of non-display,
and the lights 10, 11 of the operation section 4 are placed in the state
of non-lighting, and the process goes to the step S5. Hereafter, a "state
of complete non-lighting" refers to a state where the display section 3
is placed in the state of non-display and the lights 10, 11 of the
operation section 4 are placed in the state of non-lighting.

[0049]Subsequently, in the step S5, the proximity sensor 6 judges whether
or not the object such as the hand has been detected. If the object has
been detected (when YES), the process goes to the step S6. If the object
has not been detected (when NO), then the process goes back to the step
S4. This means that whether the user's attempt to operate the device is
detected in the state of complete non-lighting. Specifically, it is
judged whether or not the second illumination unit is to be illuminated
in a state where the display unit is in the state of non-display and the
first illumination unit and the second illumination unit are in the state
of non-lighting. In summary, in this embodiment, detection of the object
such as the hand corresponds to detection of whether or not only the
second illumination unit is to be illuminated.

[0050]Next, in the step S6, as shown in FIG. 6, only the light 11 of the
illumination button 4b is illuminated and the process goes to the step
S7. In this embodiment, the state of lighting and the state of
non-lighting of the lights 10 of the buttons and the knob belonging to
the operation section 4 other than the illumination button 4b are
controlled all together, while only the light 11 of the illumination
button 4b is allowed to be independently controlled.

[0051]After that, in the step S7, it is judged whether or not the
illumination button 4b has been operated. When the judgment is
affirmative, the process goes back to the step S2. When the judgment is
negative, then the process goes to the step S8. In this embodiment, the
fact that the illumination button 4b has been operated indicates that the
illumination button has been touched and pressed by, for example, a
finger.

[0052]Subsequently, in the step S8, it is judged whether or not a
predetermined period of time has elapsed. If the judgment is affirmative,
the process goes to the step S9. If the judgment is negative, the process
goes back to the step S6. This means that it is judged whether or not
operation is attempted during the predetermined period of time following
the illumination button 4b being placed in the state of lighting. It
should be noted that the predetermined period of time of this step may be
the same as the predetermined period of time in the step S3, and also may
be specified as the one different from that of the step S3.

[0053]Next, in the step S9, the light 11 of the illumination button 4b is
placed in the state of non-lighting, and the process goes back to the
step S5.

[0054]In the car stereo system 1 according to this embodiment, when the
object such as the hand comes close to the sensing range of the proximity
sensor 6 provided near the illumination button 4b while the display
section 3 and the lights 10, 11 of the operation section 4 on the front
face 2a are in the state of complete non-lighting, then only the light 11
of the illumination button 4b is turned on. Also, when the illumination
button 4 was operated within the predetermined period of time, the
display section 3 and the lights 10 of the operation section 4 are turned
on. If the illumination button 4b is not operated during the
predetermined period of time, the light 11 of the illumination button 4b
is turned off so that the state of complete non-lighting is entered
again. Accordingly, by illuminating the illumination button 4b only for
operating the illumination button 4b as such, it is possible to confirm
whether or not the user intentionally attempts to operate the operation
section 4. Even when the illumination button 4b only is illuminated
unintentionally, the range of illumination will be so small that the
device is not readily observed from the outside, so that the crime
prevention performance can be increased when compared with a case where
all is turned on.

[0055]Also, since the light 11 of the illumination button 4b is
illuminated upon detection of the object coming in the predetermined
range of the illumination button 4b, the operation is facilitated by
virtue of the fact that the illumination of the illumination button 4b
can be performed by just moving the hand near the illumination button 4b.

[0056]Further, since switching between the state of display and the state
of non-display of the display section 3 and switching between the state
of lighting and the state of non-lighting of the lights 10 of the
operation section 4 can be performed upon detection of the object
contacting or pressing the illumination button 4b, it is possible to
eliminate occurrence of accidental switching, for the switching will not
happen until the illumination button 4b is definitively touched or
pressed.

[0057]Also, the light 11 of the illumination button 4b is turned off by
the microcontroller 5 upon lapse of the predetermined period of time
after having been turned on, it is possible to turn off the illumination
button 4b in a short time even when it was accidentally turned on, and
thus the crime prevention performance can be increased.

[0058]Further, since the display section 3 and the lights 10, 11 of the
operation section 4 are turned off by the microcontroller 5 when they are
not operated for the predetermined period of time after having been
turned on, it is made possible to turn off the display section 3 and the
lights 10, 11 of the operation section 4 when it is not necessary to turn
them on, e.g., when no operation is performed, and thus the crime
prevention performance can be increased.

[0059]Although, the proximity sensor 6 is used in the above-described
embodiment, the light 11 of the illumination button 4b may be turned on
by a contact sensor such as a capacitance sensor detecting contacting of
any of the operation section 4 (or the front face 2a).

[0060]Also, the proximity sensor 6 is used in the above-described
embodiment. However, an additional separate microphone may be provided to
turn on the light 11 of the illumination button 4b in response to a
predetermined keyword input via the microphone. In other words, a sound
recognition may be employed. Further, two or more features may be
employed together, the features being selected from among the proximity
sensor 6, the above-described contact sensor, and the sound recognition.
This means that the light 11 of the illumination button 4b may be turned
on upon detection performed by any of these solutions.

[0061]Also, the illumination button 4b may be implemented not as a button
but as a switching unit that employs the proximity sensor 6. In other
words, it is also contemplated that the state of complete lighting and
the state of complete non-lighting may be switched upon detection of the
hand coming close to a predetermined range.

[0062]Further, the illumination button 4b may be implemented as an audio
recognition device in place of the button. Also, combination of features
selected from among the button, the proximity sensor 6, and the audio
recognition may be a possible solution. This means that the complete
lighting state and the state of complete non-lighting may be switched
upon detection performed by any of these methods.

[0063]According to the above-described embodiment, the following car
stereo system 1 can be obtained.

(Addendum 1) A car stereo system 1 comprising: a display section 3 adapted
to indicate information regarding operation of the electronic device; an
operation section 4 adapted to perform input operation; a light 10
adapted to illuminate the display section 3, a light 11 configured to
illuminate the illumination button 4b; a illumination button 4b
configured to switch between display and non-display of the display
section 3, and adapted to switch between lighting and non-lighting of the
light 10; a proximity sensor 6 configured to detect whether or not the
light 11 only is turned on when the display section 3 is in a state of
the non-display and the light 10 and the light 11 are in a state of
non-lighting; and a control unit configured to turn on the light 11 when
it is determined by the proximity sensor 6 that the light 11 is turned
on.

[0064]According to this car stereo system 1, it is possible to confirm
whether or not the user is intentionally attempting the operation. Also,
even when the light 11, i.e., the illumination button 4b is turned on
unintentionally, the range of illumination is so small that the device is
not readily recognized from the outside, and, as a result, the crime
prevention performance can be improved when compared with the case where
all is turned on.

[0065]It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiment is an
exemplary and particular one of the present invention which is in no way
limited to the specifically illustrated form. The present invention may
be effectuated with various modifications made within the scope and
spirit of the present invention.